March is the perfect time for spring cleaning—and more importantly, a complete home tune-up. Scrubbing, decluttering, and organizing aside, how about tackling those overdue roof leaks, siding cracks, drafty windows, and heating problems? They’ll only get bigger and more expensive to fix by next winter.

A broken downspout or clogged gutter, for instance, may cost $150 to repair today. Untended, it could lead to water damage inside your home that’ll cost thousands to clean up. Same for those seemingly minor home repairs: Pay attention now, or pay big bucks later.

Pro tip: If you live in a coastal zone or heavily forested area, climate change could add more urgency to your home maintenance tasks this spring. Performing critical repairs—such as cleaning gutters to improve drainage or clearing a wildfire barrier around your property—early in the year can shield your home from serious storms or wildfires later on.

Not sure where to start? Our home maintenance checklist has everything you need to get ready for spring—from “must-do-now” tasks to the best pros to call for help. It includes:

Take an “inspection walk” around the outside of your house. Look for any damage or issues that may have occurred during winter months.

Check house siding for holes that may have been created by falling tree branches or general wear and tear. Fill small cracks and gaps with caulk. For more extensive damages, see DIY guide to siding repairs.

Importance: High

Who can help? Siding contractor

Expect to pay: Get multiple bids

Homes should be painted every five years on average. If your exterior paint shows signs of cracking, peeling, bubbling, fading, or other damage, it may be time for a fresh coat. Get at least three bids from painting contractors before their calendars fill up.

Importance: High

Who can help? Painting contractor

Expect to pay: Get multiple bids

Remove all leaves, twigs, and other debris that could cause clogs. Make sure each gutter section is securely attached and not sagging. And, inspect downspouts to confirm they’re firmly connected to the gutters and house, sending runoff well away from your home. DIY to save money, but only if you’re comfortable working on ladders.

Importance: High

Who can help? Gutter cleaning service

Expect to pay: $160 for an average-sized home

Scan your roof’s surface with a pair of binoculars for missing shingles or signs of roof leaks. Also check for water stains on ceilings inside your home. If you spot problems, hire a roofer to inspect and repair these issues as soon as possible.

Importance: High

Who can help? Roofing contractor

Expect to pay: $200 for inspection; get multiple bids for repair

Make sure your central air-conditioning system is working properly. If you wait until summer, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) contractors may be booked, so make an appointment early. Change HVAC air filters. Clear debris, such as leaves and branches, from around the outside central air conditioner unit.

Importance: High

Who can help? HVAC contractor

Expect to pay: $100–300

Pro tip: Did you know that air conditioners produce 20–30 gallons of condensation water per day that could cause water damage in your home? “We constantly get calls about water coming down through ceilings and damaging floors,” explains Josh Campbell with Rescue Air Heating and Cooling of Richardson, Texas. For that reason, it’s important to “get drains maintenanced at least once a year,” he advises.

The risk of leaking water is highest in areas where temperatures dip below freezing in winter. To spot hidden leaks, shut off every plumbing fixture and appliance that uses water, then check your water meter. If the dials are moving, you have a leak.

Importance: High

Who can help? Plumber or a leak detection service for underground leaks.

Expect to pay: $150–300 for detection

If you have a sump pump in your basement or crawl space, test the pump by pouring a bucket of water into the basin. If the pump doesn’t turn on, check the circuit breaker. If it still doesn’t work, call a plumber.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Plumbing contractor

Expect to pay: $250–450 for repair or replacement

Look around for signs of termite damage—pencil-sized mud tubes where the house meets the ground or small piles of termite droppings that look like coffee grounds or sawdust at the base of woodwork. If you find them, call a pest control service. Eliminate mosquito breeding areas by removing any standing water around the outside of your home.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Pest control service

Expect to pay: $50–150 for inspection

Cracks and fissures in concrete walkways or driveways present a tripping danger that will only get worse with rain and freezing next winter.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Concrete contractors

Expect to pay: $200–2,000, depending upon the extent of repair

If you installed storm windows in the fall, remove them and safely store away. Clean window screens with a vacuum or garden hose. Repair or replace any damaged screens before installing them in windows.

Importance: Low

Who can help? Handyperson

Expect to pay: $35–80 per hour

Spring cleaning goes beyond washing, scrubbing, and decluttering. This is the perfect time to ensure your home is safe and energy efficient.

Batteries in both types of detectors should be fresh and in good working order. Change batteries twice a year.

Importance: High

Who can help? DIY

Disassemble the clothes dryer vent and vacuum out all accumulated lint and dust— this buildup is highly flammable. See How to clean a dryer vent. For best results call a dryer vent pro.

Importance: High

Who can help? Dryer vent cleaning service

Expect to pay: $100–170

Make sure extinguishers will work in an emergency. There should be one on every level of the house, including the basement and garage. In some areas, the local fire department will recharge fire extinguishers for free, or recommend local businesses that can do this. Fire extinguisher services can also test and maintain your equipment.

Importance: High

Who can help? Local fire department or a certified fire extinguisher company

Expect to pay: $10–25 per extinguisher

Flush lime deposits and sediment out of your water heater to increase tank life and heating efficiency. See how to find a good plumber.

Importance: High

Who can help? Plumber

Expect to pay: $80–250

Pro tip: “All water heaters, including tankless water heaters, should be flushed once a year so sediment build-up doesn’t shorten their life,” according to Z&H Plumbing & Water Heaters of Los Angeles.

In addition to general housekeeping, give a good cleaning to appliances, cabinets, windows, plumbing fixtures, and floors. Declutter to maximize space and emotional well-being. Give everything a thorough dusting and consider buying an air purifier to freshen indoor air after a long winter. Want to hire help for the spring cleaning tasks? Here are questions to ask before hiring a house-cleaning service.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? House cleaning service

Expect to pay: $90–250

Make sure fan blades are turning counterclockwise for best cooling. Most fans have a switch to change the direction of the blades. Turn off the fan and wait for the blades to stop turning before flipping the switch.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? DIY

Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent heat build up as cool air escapes. It’s also a good idea to have an insulation contractor check attic insulation levels.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Insulation contractor

Expect to pay: $100–200 for inspection

When spring arrives, it’s time to begin repairing the lawn, fertilizing, and planting. Start by raking leaves, loosening soil in flower beds, and spreading mulch on garden beds to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Spring is also the time to plant perennials.

If you turned off water to outdoor faucets to avoid freezing, turn it back on and check for pipe leaks. Make sure all sprinkler heads are working properly.

Importance: High

Who can help? DIY

Aerating creates small holes in the soil that allow air, water, and fertilizer to penetrate roots and grow a stronger, more vibrant lawn. For tiny yards, use a manual aerator. Otherwise rent a gas-powered core aerator. Save money by sharing the rental fee with neighbors who also need aeration.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Lawn service

Expect to pay: $100–150 for an average-size lawn; $60 per day to rent a lawn aerator.

Reseed bare spots on your lawn with a patch-and-repair product that contains grass seed, mulch, and fertilizer. And while you’re waiting for new growth, make sure your lawn mower is working. If not, take it in for service.

Importance: Medium

Who can help? Lawn service

Expect to pay: $50 per hour

Clear away leaves and twigs, then rake and loosen soil. Fill in any low-soil areas that could collect water and breed insects. Plant bulbs that flower in summer, such as dahlias and lilies, but wait for warm weather before planting flowers that could be damaged by a late frost.

Importance: Low

Who can help? DIY

Late fall to early spring is the best time for pruning most trees, and a good time to remove damaged or dead ones.

Importance: Low

Who can help? Tree service

Expect to pay: $1,200 per day for a tree crew

If you have a pool, get it ready for summer. Scrub inside the pool, vacuum up debris, test water chemistry, and add chemicals, as required. Check that fences and gate latches to the pool area are solid and in good working order. Scrub wood decks and fences using a commercial deck cleaner; replace any rotted boards.

Importance: Low

Who can help? Swimming pool service

Expect to pay: $150–300 for the first service of season

Related: To learn more about year-round care for your home—and the pros who can help you—see Your Essential Home Maintenance Checklist.

While some of these maintenance chores are DIY-friendly, others are best handled by pros. Developing a relationship with local professionals will yield better, more dependable service in the long run.

Did you know that hiring a pro on Yelp is easy to do with Request-A-Quote? Many Yelp businesses display the bright red button on their pages. Just click on it, and you’ve taken the first step toward getting the service you want, when you need it, and at the price you can afford.

Yelp’s Request a Quote feature allows you to compare quotes from up to 10 home services professionals in a matter of minutes. Simply request a quote from a local pro, answer a few quick questions about your project, and get quotes from top-rated pros that you can easily compare.